Desert false indigo - Amorpha fruticosa

Description and Uses

Amorpha fruticosa (Desert false indigo) is a tropical shrub from Eastern North America. It is mainly grown for its ornamental crops (medium shelflife), The crop is harvested by hand picking. It starts flowering after 1 - 3 years. The first yield will be 0.2 kg/plant/year but in its top season there will be a yield of 0.7 kg/plant/year. Regarding firewood production the shrub`s growing speed is medium, its energetic value is 4400 ckal/kg and the wood`s drying speed is medium; for firewood production it is not ideal. After 7 years the shrub can be totally removed as it reached its commercial and ecological goal. Amorpha fruticosa has a lifespan of 20 years.

---

Environmental limitations

The shrub is 6 meters tall. It is medium growing and tolerates not less light than partial shade. Amorpha fruticosa has a deep root-system and forms symbiotic relations (endo-mycorrhiza). It is able to fix nitrogen with Frankiaceae bacteria. The shrub`s flower-morphology is dioecious and is pollinated by bees. Amorpha fruticosa is deciduous in dry season and not allelopathic and has no thorns.

Amorpha fruticosa thrives in an altitude of 300 to 2100 meters above sea-level (tropical). The minimum temperature is -40°C and optimally between 13 - 29°C. The optimal rainfall is 750 mm/year. Without irrigation the annual rainfall should be between 250 - 1000 mm (L/m²). The optimal soil-pH is between 7.0 - 9.0 in a soil texture of sand. To salt it is a bit tolerant to wind tolerant and to fire intolerant.

---

Pests and Diseases

and diseases.

---

Seed Propagation

Unfortunately propagation instruction is missing.

---